Struggling hitter comes up big in West Michigan Whitecaps victory

COMSTOCK PARK — Jeff Rowland hasn’t been on the field as much as he wanted to be this season.

But the West Michigan Whitecaps outfielder made the most of his chance to start Thursday night and sparked the team to a win.

Rowland went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored as the Whitecaps rallied for a 5-3 victory against the South Bend Silver Hawks in front of 3,716 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Rowland entered Thursday with a dismal .149 average in only 14 games, but produced two singles and a key two-run double in the fourth inningfrom the No. 9 spot in the batting order.

“I was just happy to get out there and help us get a win,” sad Rowland, who raised his average to .196. “I’m just going to make the most of it when I do get my opportunities. I’ll take what I can get when I get it.”

Rowland’s first multi-hit game helped West Michigan gain a split in the four-game series against South Bend.

The Whitecaps (15-19) closed out a seven-game homestand with a 5-2 record. They have won seven of their past nine games.

“Any time you win a homestand, you have to be happy,” Whitecaps manager Ernie Young said. “We just had a road trip where we were .500, and that’s something to build on, especially after a slow start and losing 12 in a row.”

The Whitecaps trailed 2-1 before their bats exploded in the fourth inning with five consecutive hits and four runs.

Singles from James Robbins, Nick Castellanos and Ryan Hamme loaded the bases. Then, Steven Moya cranked a double to score the go-ahead runs.

Rowland followed with another double to extend the lead.

“He threw it in there and I got a good pitch to hit,” Rowland said. “I’ve been working with (hitting instructor) Toby Harrah with getting my foot down a little earlier and seeing the ball longer.

“We’re real confident as a team right now, and we’ve been playing good baseball.”

Rowland, who batted .281 in 57 games with the Whitecaps last season, has had at least one hit in his five games.

“He did very well and swung the bat well tonight,” Young said. “He has struggled a little bit starting out, but he is fighting and trying to get himself back on track.”

Whitecaps starter Kevin Eichhorn (2-2) surrendered two runs in the second inning, but settled down to win his second consecutive start.

Eichhorn went six innings and allowed one earned run on six hits.

Bruce Rondon got the final out of the eighth inning and closed it in the ninth for his fourth save.